Sick Again!

Update: Aric saw the doctor today and thankfully he does not have another ear infection. She said that he has a really bad cold and mentioned RSV. They way she explained it RSV makes as much mucous in a baby as it does in an adult. Aric is just full of it. All I can do is make him comfortable, suction his nose and wait while his body fights it. Poor little guy! At the moment he's on his fourth nap of the day.

I called in sick this morning and it's not because I'm sick. Tuesday night Aric started coughing; a horrible, hacking cough, and his nose started running big time. It didn't seem so bad. He showed no signs of infection and no temperature. Yesterday he still had no temperature, but he was still coughing and had a runny nose. The cough would sometimes make him lose his voice, which would have been kind of funny if not for how pathetic he was. When he tried to talk and babble Aric looked so confused that not much sound was coming out. Poor guy! This morning he is still coughing, has a runny nose and now he's added in a goopy eye, which was the only sign of his last ear infection, and a 100 temperature. No trips to daycare today, but I guarantee we'll be making a trip to the doctor. Now if he would just stop getting sick on my "Mondays". They might start thinking that I'm making this up to extend my weekend.

Life through Photos

To Dad: No, you can't ground me anymore, but you can still make me feel like I disappointed you with my deviousness!

Ryan has wanted a new set of salt and pepper shakers for awhile. Recently a coworker brought in a Tupperware catalog and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to order a set of salt and pepper shakers. I remember my parents had a set and they were extremely durable. Besides they would have a lifetime warranty since they are Tupperware. At the price of $9.50 it seemed too good to be true. That's because it was...

Here is a picture of my new salt and pepper shakers:

They look fine. They seem durable and they hold salt and pepper. Apparently I neglected to read the actual size of the set. This is my salt and pepper shaker next to a 16 oz glass:

The set my parents have are as tall if not taller than the glass. I am now the not so proud owner of a $9.50 set of munchkin salt and pepper shakers. Next time I'll read more closely.

I have been neglectful in posting a photo of my new haircut. I haven't had anyone around to take a picture of it. (Aric would be more interested in eating the camera if I gave it to him.) Today was the first day that I actually liked my hair. I've walked around for a week hating my haircut. It's not quite what I asked for and I specifically asked to not have the back cut so short. What can I do, though, but grow it out a little longer. Since I don't have a photo I'm posting this:

Why, yes, that is a scan of my new driver's license photo. No, I don't think it's a bad photo, except my smile is really crooked. All too often I forget I have a crooked smile and that I need to compensate for that. Oh, well. Those really short hairs you see are all of the post-pregnancy hair that I lost and they are now growing back. Those hairs are the reason behind me chopping my hair off.

And the boy who would rather eat the camera...

He's mastered crawling and travels all over the house. Now he likes to stand up and walk with assistance. The boy won't sit still for anything anymore. Well, except for Baby Einstein videos and Cheerios and when you're stuck in your highchair with both .

I just thought you would want to know that I got in trouble for number 16 tonight on my 25 Random Things. To think I thought the statute of limitations was up.

Cherished

Today my husband surprised me. He sent a gorgeous bouquet of flowers with a note saying he was sorry he couldn't celebrate Valentine's Day and my birthday with me. I feel so cherished and loved.

Here's a random fact about us- we only celebrate Valentine's Day every other year and this was the year.

Random

I found out some exciting news today. We've known about the possibility for awhile, but haven't shared the information. Today everything was confirmed. Last week I was given the opportunity to change my days off from Tues-Wed to Thurs-Fri. (I know it's still not a weekend, but it has so many possibilities.) Ryan and I haven't shared a day off together pretty much since I started working there. Ryan has Fri-Sun off, so if I took Thurs-Fri we would at least get one full day together. We were waiting to hear back from Aric's daycare to see if Aric could change his days and take a full time slot. With Aric taking a full time slot it would also secure his position at the daycare, right now he's an extra kid. I heard back from Ms. Autumn today and she said she would be glad to watch Aric. As of March 1 my days off will be Thurs-Fri and I'm really excited to see my husband more. Plus as an extra bonus, since Aric has a full time slot we can take him to daycare if we want to spend Friday as a date day! Super bonus- I will now get Aric's birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years and New Years Eve off all because they fall on Thurs-Fri this year!

Aric tried to catch a roach this morning. He was so close to grabbing it when I caught him. I guess it's payback, I apparently tried to eat bugs as a child.

And for my last bit of randomness- I cut all of my hair off today. Well, not me, the hairdresser did it. It's a little shorter in the back than I wanted, but it's hair and it will grow. It's a little shocking, though, and I'm really undecided if I like it or not. I'll have to post a picture of it.

No News...

At the appointment yesterday we found out two things:

-No one knows what Aric is allergic to.

-Aric has an ear infection.

I really was hoping to find out more, but no such luck. Aric is doing well and hasn't had anymore problems. If the reaction happens again we're supposed to give him Benadryl and take him to the hospital. Then they will refer him to the allergy clinic to figure out what he's allergic to. It's kind of frustrating not knowing. But at least he's on an antibiotic and he should feel better soon.

Dr. House

These are the items I'm taking with me to the pediatrician. (We have an appt at 1:15.) Aric ate nothing new yesterday and these are the only items that he was exposed to yesterday.

I really don't think it was the Johnson & Johnson's soothing balm. We did put that on his cheeks, but it was before lunch and his reaction was after 7pm. Ryan had the Gold Bond lotion on his hands and we're not sure how much Aric was actually around the lotion. Ryan suspects the makeup. I kissed Aric before bath and Aric kissed me back. It was the first time he had done it and in typical baby fashion he pretty much open-mouth licked my cheek. The makeup isn't new, but the kisses were.

Hopefully we can figure out what his allergy is. If we don't know what it is, then we can't keep him away from it and it'll only get worse. I think this one is a keeper!

A Trip to the ER

Last night was our first trip to the ER. I noticed Aric had red splotches and bumps all over his little belly last night while we were sitting on the bathroom floor trying to get the bath water to the correct temperature. I didn't really think anything of it and continued on with washing his hair. After I finished washing his hair I took his diaper off and plopped him in the tub. He made sort of odd wheezing sounds and thrashed a bit. I thought the water was too hot. I tested it and discovered it was a little on the cold side. I pulled him out and held him while I adjusted the water temperature and he calmed down. Then I put him back in the tub, washed him and gave him his bath toys. Aric played for a while and then started fussing to get out. I took him into the bedroom, put his diaper on him and took him downstairs to show Ryan his belly. Ryan didn't seem concerned. I took Aric back upstairs to put his pajamas on him. While I was putting his pajamas on him, I noticed he was wheezing while fussing and I noticed that his tongue was huge. I rushed him back downstairs to make Ryan look at his tongue. Ryan confirmed that Aric's tongue looked swollen and we rushed him to the ER.

Of course, when we get to the ER Aric is doing better and smiling at the front desk attendant. (Who by the way is more concerned with who you are and if you're in the system then actually asking why you're there. I think she should ask what the problem is before getting around to your name and insurance information.) The triage nurse came out and checked him over. He wasn't wheezing anymore, still had hives and his tongue was slightly swollen. We got lumped in the group with all of the other sick babies. Aric ate, fell asleep and seemed to be alright. We waited there two hours and there was no sign of any progress in seeing a doctor. Ryan consulted his mom and we decided to just go home, monitor Aric overnight and take him to the pediatrician the next day.

I have some ideas of what might have caused the allergic reaction but I'll wait to let you know until after we talk to his doctor. Hopefully I can get him into the pediatrician today.

Ready, Set, Go...

I have no picture of this yet, but Aric decided that today was the day to start crawling. Ryan captured some video of it earlier today and I was able to witness it when I came home from work. He doesn't crawl far and tires easily, but I'm sure he'll be everywhere in a matter of weeks.

Should I mention to Ms. Autumn at daycare tomorrow that Aric is now crawling or let her figure it out on her own?

25 Random Things

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I am a voracious reader. I'll read the back of a shampoo bottle, food box, etc just for something to read.

2. I was born in Hawaii and have a Hawaiian middle name.

3. I miss my pierced belly button, but I also have no desire whatsoever to get it re-pierced. No one sees it any more.

4. I cry when I'm angry and it only makes me angrier.

5. I miss driving a stick shift. When I drive our truck I'm always reaching for the non-existent clutch. If I had the option I would get another stick shift vehicle.

6. I shave my legs everyday unless I'm running late. I hate leg stubble.

7. I'm kind of ready for the next baby. It took so long to have Aric that I'm afraid to wait.

8. My tailbone curves inside my body, which is why Aric didn't drop and why I had to have a c-section. At least that's what I remember the doctor telling me when I was still under the effects of anesthesia.

9. I'm an Army brat and a preacher's kid. I think they cancelled each other out.

10. I hated school. I'm glad that there's so much more to life than high school and college.

11. I'm three semesters from graduating with a business degree which I could add on to my interior design degree. See #10 for the reasoning of why I don't really care to finish.

12. I've wanted to be a mom since I knew I had the capability to be a mom. My son is such a joy in my life (except when it's 3am and he's the bane of my existence).

13. I've taken German, Latin, Spanish, and French and I only speak English.

14. I got carbon monoxide poisioning walking outside in Korea. I wanted to lay down on the sidewalk and sleep. I thought I was going to die alone outside in a dirty gutter and no one would ever find my body.

15. All of my major injuries have occurred when my dad or my husband were gone on a business trip. (Growing up it was my dad being gone, now it's Ryan being gone.) None of this is intentional, it just happens. These injuries include: a broken arm, two broken toes (it may not seem major but I got stuck in a wooden shoe both times), knee surgery and a concussion.

16. I'm going to get into so much trouble if my mom reads this: in high school I was required to practice 30 min everyday for band. I made a recording once a week for 30 min and the rest of the week I would press play and spend the time reading in my room. If my mom knew this she never let on. This explains why I never excelled at band.

17. I type with two fingers. I never took typing and was never made to learn the home row. I know where all the keys are and I'm a quick typer. (I have to be able to type 40wpm mistake free for my job.) I think if learned the home row now it would just slow me down.

18. I hate mushrooms because of a boy.

19. My favorite ice cream is Blue Bell.

20. If you part my hair down the center in the back of my head I have two round scars from when I fell on my head as a toddler. I had a ponytail holder in my hair that punched two holes in the back of my head. (If you're wondering my dad was not away on a business trip.)

21. I divide my M&M's into colors and eat them by color group in no particular order. I only do this when I'm at work. At home I grab a handful and just eat them.

22. I hate to paint, but I love not having to live with white walls anymore.

23. I always change my hairstyle and told my husband when we first started dating not to love me for my hair.

24. I talk to my mom on the phone most every Tuesday morning. We both have the day off and we can catch up on the week and spend some uninterrupted time together.

25. My thumbs bend backwards. It's a great advantage in thumb war.

I'm not tagging 25 people, because I don't really think 25 people read this.